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Help me understand soccer over seas
Posted on 7/4/14 at 4:31 pm
Posted on 7/4/14 at 4:31 pm
They have so many different leagues and competition levels it gets confusing for a novice soccer fan.
Soccer is probably the #3 sport for me behind baseball and football and the world cup has made me want to try and follow it a bit closer.
Right now the only time I watch is when they have a game on at 6am on ESPN/ESPN2 at the gym.
Soccer is probably the #3 sport for me behind baseball and football and the world cup has made me want to try and follow it a bit closer.
Right now the only time I watch is when they have a game on at 6am on ESPN/ESPN2 at the gym.
7
Posted on 7/4/14 at 4:32 pm to tduecen
what do you want t know?
Posted on 7/4/14 at 4:43 pm to tduecen
It might help to look at it through the prism of one team.
Chelsea plays in the English Premier League. Chelsea finished second last season. The top four finishers in the EPL compete in the UEFA Champions League with top teams from all of the European leagues, which operates (basically) like the World Cup, with group play, followed by knockout rounds. There is also the FA Cup in England, a knockout tournament open to any team in England. Chelsea also competes in the English League Cup (knockout only), open to the teams in England's Football League (the top four English leagues).
There is also the Europa League which you can picture as the "NIT" to the Champions League.
So, you can picture similar obligations for most European teams. Those that don't finish high enough to compete in European play, may find themselves focusing on competing well in their nation's Cup, and mostly trying to avoid relegation. (European leagues will drop the bottom two or three teams down a league at the end of each season, and promote the top two from the lower league.)
Chelsea plays in the English Premier League. Chelsea finished second last season. The top four finishers in the EPL compete in the UEFA Champions League with top teams from all of the European leagues, which operates (basically) like the World Cup, with group play, followed by knockout rounds. There is also the FA Cup in England, a knockout tournament open to any team in England. Chelsea also competes in the English League Cup (knockout only), open to the teams in England's Football League (the top four English leagues).
There is also the Europa League which you can picture as the "NIT" to the Champions League.
So, you can picture similar obligations for most European teams. Those that don't finish high enough to compete in European play, may find themselves focusing on competing well in their nation's Cup, and mostly trying to avoid relegation. (European leagues will drop the bottom two or three teams down a league at the end of each season, and promote the top two from the lower league.)
Posted on 7/4/14 at 4:44 pm to SlowFlowPro
quote:divisions etc.... what is best at there seems to be a ton of leagues and teams
what do you want t know?
Posted on 7/4/14 at 4:45 pm to tduecen
Germany, Spain and Italy have the best leagues. England has a pretty good one too.
Posted on 7/4/14 at 4:47 pm to tduecen
Wait till the season starts and check the matchday threads on here( england kicks off mid august) youll get a good feel from there
Posted on 7/4/14 at 4:48 pm to Sheep
Good description. 
Posted on 7/4/14 at 4:49 pm to hendersonshands
quote:
Germany, Spain and Italy have the best leagues. England has a pretty good one too.
Posted on 7/4/14 at 4:56 pm to S
probably main issue is lack of games on tv and having to watch on phone/tablet/etc....
Posted on 7/4/14 at 4:57 pm to tduecen
quote:
divisions etc.... what is best at there seems to be a ton of leagues and teams
To oversimplify...
English Premier League - Fast paced, direct, physical. Some might say it's the most exciting. Several HUGE clubs and generally it's very competitive and dramatic.
La Liga (Spain) - Basically Real Madrid vs Barcelona and sometimes Atletico Madrid. It's probably "better" soccer than the BPL when looking at it from a technical and tactical point of view, but it's not that competitive and slower paced than BPL.
Serie A (Italy) - More competitive than La Liga and it's not just a two team league. But there are basically three HUGE clubs, and the rest. Very defensive, slow paced and tactical. I love it, but maybe not the most exciting for a new fan.
Bundesliga (Germany) - A good combination of fast paced, attacking style, and technical and tactical proficiency. Very entertaining. However, don't expect any last day drama like you'll usually get with the BPL.
Overall, I think BPL is probably the best place to start for a new fan.
Posted on 7/4/14 at 4:57 pm to tduecen
quote:
probably main issue is lack of games on tv and having to watch on phone/tablet/etc....
There are streaming sites where you can watch just about any game for free. All BPL games are TV.
This post was edited on 7/4/14 at 5:01 pm
Posted on 7/4/14 at 5:00 pm to tduecen
quote:
probably main issue is lack of games on tv and having to watch on phone/tablet/etc....
If you have uverse, DirectTV, Cox, every EPL game is available on TV for no extra cost.
Posted on 7/4/14 at 5:00 pm to Sheep
quote:
Chelsea plays in the English Premier League. Chelsea finished third last season.
FIFY
Posted on 7/4/14 at 5:02 pm to thesoccerfanjax
quote:
English Premier League - Fast paced, direct, physical. Some might say it's the most exciting.
Who?
Posted on 7/4/14 at 5:03 pm to hendersonshands
For most here it is. Just because most follow teams in the EPL. Obviously not you.
Posted on 7/4/14 at 5:04 pm to hendersonshands
A lot of people. From a very superficial/beginners point of view, it is the most exciting.
Posted on 7/4/14 at 5:05 pm to Xenophon
I mean, I joke around but it's a good league that's easy to follow. But most exciting?
Posted on 7/4/14 at 5:05 pm to tduecen
Don't forget about all the cup games as well, which nearly every club team takes part in. I think the FA cup will start soon for the lower level clubs in England but the Premier League clubs won't take part until early next year. You also have the League Cup there as well but only teams from League 2 all the way to the Premier League take part but most clubs only play their reserve players and don't take it that seriously.
Posted on 7/4/14 at 5:08 pm to hendersonshands
quote:
But most exciting?
For a noob, absolutely. They've actually probably heard of about half the clubs. It's less "foreign" than the other leagues. It's easier to watch. It's physical, attacking, lots of drama (yea, that could be said for the bund, too...).
Posted on 7/4/14 at 5:09 pm to thesoccerfanjax
quote:
attacking
Is it?
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